FUE recovery process - unshaven recipient area

[jakep]

Hi all
I'm 32, currently somewhere between a N2 and N3. No diffuse thinning. Have been on Propecia for 3 years and loss has at least stabilised.
I am currently considering/researching a FUE procedure of somewhere around 2000 grafts. Not looking for a full hairline but rather a slightly wider frontal region.
I understand that around 2 weeks post-op the transplanted hair will shed, and then start to return after around 4 months, and continue to reach full effect after 12-18 months.
My question is, if no shock loss occurs, and if the recipient area is unshaven, how long would it take before I looked as I did pre-op? That is, with no new hair, but with no less hair then I went into the op with.
My current considerations are I'm happy to wait a year or more before I benefit from the procedure, if I could reasonably expect to spend that year looking like I did prior to the op.
My second question, which is linked to the first, is, what is the likelihood of shock loss after a procedure which does not involve transplanting into diffuse areas? And, if shock loss does occur, how long does it typically take to recover?
Many thanks
Jake
P.S Being from the UK I understand that my best option is perhaps travel to Belgium.

 

[JoeTillman]

Hi Jake,
Good questions.
1. If you don't have the recipient area shaved then you should be able to look pretty normal in about a week, maybe less, depending on how your clinic of choice structures your post-operative care. Keep in mind however that with FUE your donor region will need to be shaved unless you go for the no shave option in that regard. However, your donor hair will have to be long enough to pull this off but I always recommend shaving the entire donor zone. This insures that your donor is used to it's maximum efficiency and you can still keep the recipient unshaven and after one week you'll look like you have a new hair style, not that you've had surgery.
2. If you have work done in a baren area, not among native hairs, you may still have some shock but it is unlikely to be severe. If you do have shock, it usually begins to come back about the same time you get new graft growth, between three to five months post.
My belief is that once you have a procedure you have to assume you'll look worse for the few few months after your procedure before you start to look better. It's just the way it works and while some patients have been able to have their cake and eat it too, they are the exception, not the rule.

 

[jakep]

Many thanks for your response Joe. That is both reassuring and logical.

I have a close shaven donor area anyway so that wouldn't impact too much on me.

Thanks again.

 

[janna]

Hi Jakep,
You'd be amazed at how fast you heal with our post op care. I firmly believe Liposomal ATP is great for graft survival and healing. The recipient and the donor area is barely noticeable at 5-7 days post op. It takes approximately 4-6 weeks for the transplanted hairs to shed.
In my experience, shock-loss is very rare. Do you have any pics of your hair loss you can post for us?

 

[Bigmac]

Around the one week mark, you should be looking ok. There may be some redness though.
Take a look at the doctor sections further down the forum, you can view lots of FUE examples. Check out the patient testimonials too, you can follow their progress and ask them questions directly.